Submitted by Ms. Karen!
Pond Circle, written by Betsy Franco and illustrated by the amazing Stefano Vitale is a beautiful tale about a pond and its inhabitants through a late summer afternoon till night. This rhythmic story builds on itself with each character introduced (think “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” only more beautiful). It begins with the water in the pond itself, then the algae, insects, reptiles, animals, and birds, moving through an accurately represented food chain to the little girl who lives by the pond. The pictures, you ask? StefanoVitale is my new favorite illustrator! Vitale’s luminous illustrations, gorgeously done on wood board with paint/color wash, brings this story magically to life. The pictures are large and lush, great for lap time or group reading. As a bonus, there are lots of fun facts at the end about each creature we’ve met, making it a must-read for all animal lovers and budding scientists out there. If you, like me, are a sucker for a great picture book, you won’t be disappointed in Pond Circle. (Did I mention it is beautiful?) See this book listed in our catalog